NORTH COAST- Students living in the Van Duzen watershed had the chance to explore their scientific curiosity outdoors on Wednesday thanks to a federal grant.

"We kind of combine science and ecology and science in the arts,” said program Director Sal Steinberg.

Sal Steinberg has been teaching for nearly 35 years and is a part of an organization called Friends of the Van Duzen River. Recently the organization and Six Rivers National Forest received a $100,000 grant to develop the next generation of watershed stewards.

"We are teaching all of these students to become scientists because ultimately they are the ones who are going to have to take care of the watershed," said Steinberg.

Steinberg said the program gives the students first-hand experience and allows them take measurements, participate in fish surveys, and study the different stream channels along the river.